St. Simons...Year 18

Our trip to St. Simons this year was another good one  in spite of the way it started....with the question I dread most from any teenager:  "Mom, Can I drive?"  (though usually it's "DAD, Can I drive" because they know the yes is more likely to come from him).  Hannah has had her permit since October and while she is progressing nicely as a teen driver, she is still in the learning stages.  However, I set aside my own personal inhibitions (fear for my life) and said she could drive us.  I also graciously agreed to give Matt the front seat on the drive.  Selfless of me, I know.  She did just fine in spite of one extremely awkward yellow light where Hannah couldn't decide whether to stop or go so she rolled through it at 2 miles an hour.  That thing had almost turned back to green by the time we finally made it through.  But other than that, she did great and even got some highway driving in.  

We rolled in on Monday to our usual accommodations and of course the first thing Matt had to do was run down and jump into the ocean.  The temperature was a little chilly so it was a quick trip. 

After that we ordered from our favorite pizza place (Fox's pizza) and settled in for the night.

Tuesday was our first full day and kind of set the stage for the rest of the days.  Matt and Hannah up for a run early followed by coffee and a gentle morning.  Plans for today included a grocery run, lunch at Iguanas and Bocce at the beach.  We have had our bocce ball set for quite a long time but for one reason or another, never had the opportunity to use it.  This might have been a good thing given how things turned out, but I'll get to that in a bit.    

When we got down to the beach we set up our Shibumi shade and it was fantastic.  Easy to set up, super light to carry down and provides great shade.  Highly recommend (and if anyone from Shibumi would like to pay me for my plug, I can be venmoed.  But really...it's worth the hype)   

Hannah and Ben... unnecessarily shirring up the tent poles.   They were certain I didn't have it in the sand the right way, but I did!! But...I'm not mad that they made a sand castle together :).  

Bocce ball was so fun! (at first).  We each chose a color...Ben was red, Hannah yellow, Matt blue and I had green.  These would be our colors for the week.  The goal is to throw your (kind of heavy) ball across the sand to try to be the person closest to the previously tossed white ball.  We added our own rules...whoever won not only threw the white ball for the next round but also got to determine the order of the player for that round.  And also got to create any additional rules for that round.  This kept it interesting for sure.  We had a great time, were pretty evenly matched and couldn't wait to play again tomorrow!  

That evening we ate in and watched "Bruce Almighty" as a family.  We don't do this a lot and now I know why.  What I remembered about that movie was that it was heartwarming and sweet and funny.  Somehow I sort of forgot the super (and even more super with teenagers) awkward scene there is in that movie during "date night".  Always fun to see those things with your parents in the room!  You better believe that movie dinner on the following evening was much more carefully vetted out...

The next day was a lot like the previous...lunch out-this time at Marshside Grill (where Ben decided he was slightly chilly so we opted for sitting outside on the porch...he warmed up in no time with the 100 degree temperatures overlooking the marsh. The rest of us might have melted slightly).  

Glowing....

After lunch it was back to the beach for more bocce!   We laughed and made ridiculous rules-left hand only, overhead throws with both hands, and backward throwing were just a few (the backward throwing was a little more dangerous than we liked so we toned it down after that).  As the game evolved, everyone kind of developed their own style of play...Ben wasn't so concerned with winning as much as sabotaging everyone else's game.  When he threw...there was going to be collateral damage. Hannah...well she was the self proclaimed MVP of the entire game because she was just so gosh darned good at it (winning about 25% of the time).  Matt was the one who won most often (on this day of play it was cute and endearing.  This would change) and I just never seemed to have enough power on my throws.  Probably need to go to the gym more than once a year but we will see if bocce is worth all of that.  

We headed up for dinner and a movie at the condo...this time was Rush Hour and everyone enjoyed it with minimal cringe so that was a win.  

Thursday was another good day. We had lunch at Barbara Jean's (I'm embarrassed to say it was our first time!) and a quick photo sessions at the live oaks nearby.  

After that we hung out at the condo and played cards-hearts, and blackjack and gin.  Oddly enough, Matt managed to win every game we played, kind of like in bocce.  Less cute and endearing when everyone loses every time except for one person but its fine. It was fine.  Like, we were all fine with it.  

Fast forward to Bocce time and well...Matt won every time with the exception of one game.

 But we were still fine.  No, really we were.  

 

For four games. 

At which point Matt ran completely out of cute and endearing and found out quickly that it's lonely at the top.  Everyone picked up their ball and went home.  Matt was utterly confused..."Guys? Why don't you want to play anymore?  All I was doing was trying my best!" (literally these were his words).  In other news...if anyone is looking for a gently used bocce ball set, we have one we won't be needing anymore.  Free to a good home.  

Later on, Ben went to the tide pool and hunted on behalf of the entitled tide pool dwellers...the minute those ibis's spotted Ben's net, they cozied right up and waited for a meal.  It was actually pretty cute to see...he would scoop up a netful of shrimp and then toss them to the bird who was ready to swallow them up.  When that bird was full, off he would go and another would show up immediately to take his place.  Birdie fast food I guess! 

Thursday night we ate with Matt's work family at Fiddlers, and as much as it pains me to share this with you...it is the best restaurant on the island and you should go there.  Except DON'T go there because there are already way too many people going and I hate crowds.  But really the food and atmosphere are perfect and fit the St. Simon's vibe perfectly.  

Friday was more of a chill day.  Matt and I went for a long walk-something we were able to do daily and it was probably my favorite part of the trip.  We reminisced about all the years we have been coming down here both with family and his company and admired all the cute houses in St. Simons.  This time a storm was slowly rolling in so the weather was overcast and the breeze was almost chilly which made for great walking conditions.  We also walked right by this guy:

...we were so close and he didn't pay a bit of attention to us...just waited for us to take the pic and continued eating.  Just a little more of the magic of this place.  

Coming home from St. Simons is always bittersweet.  On the one hand, we have to leave one of our very favorite places knowing that it will be an entire year before we get to return.  On the other, though, is the relief of coming back to a home you love and getting to see the red fur baby.  She surely makes leaving hard.  I'm just so thankful she got to spend time in her home away from home with Nana and Dee.  I think we missed her more than she missed us! 

 Now the countdown to year 19 begins....364 days to go!